Begin at the Beginning

The beginning of a new year seems to be a great time to “start over,” to forsake old habits that are getting us nowhere and to embrace new ways of living that we believe will be more beneficial to us. Many people take this opportunity to review their life and readjust priorities. Some make what they call “new year’s resolutions,” vowing they are going to change their lives by adhering to a list of proposed changes. Sadly, these lists seem to keep people on track for not much longer than it takes the ink to dry on the paper. We are creatures of habit, and too easily fall back into old ways of doing things.

In the first verse of the Bible, we find the words: In the beginning God . . .  As His child, I believe that any change we desire in our life requires us to begin at the beginning. We need to go back to the One who began it all in the first place and ask for His guidance. Proverbs 1:7 says, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom . . .  If we desire guidance—wisdom for how to live our lives—we need only to look to the One who is all wisdom. As we live in the reverential fear of the Lord, acknowledging that He is the One who knows all things, as we submit ourselves to His divine direction and immerse ourselves in His Word, we will obtain His help in taking our life in the direction He desires for us.

So, this year I am going to make one resolution that I believe will cover everything:  I resolve to put God first in my life and to obey Him in all things.

Father, help me to lay aside anything that hinders my relationship with You. Help me to begin at the beginning and follow You all the way.

Scriptures for Reflection

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:7)

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33)

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14)

God’s Gift: The Reason for the Season

On Christmas Day we celebrate the coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, into the world. The reason for His coming is summed up in one very familiar verse of scripture: For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

It is wonderful to contemplate the wonder of the Christmas story and to get caught up in what some people call the “magic” of Christmas. There is just no other time like it. But the coming of Christ can and should be celebrated every day. And the reason for His coming needs to be proclaimed throughout the year: For God so loved the world that He gave . . .

The essence of love is giving. The proof that a person loves is what they are willing to give of their resources and of themselves. God gave His precious Son, and Jesus gave His life. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)

And so Christmas is more than about the gifts under the tree. It is about the Gift who came to die on a tree. He came to give us life and that more abundantly—every day of the year.

Father, thank You for the greatest Gift of all: Your Son given because of Your great love for us. May we celebrate His coming each and every day of our lives. And may we be willing to give to others by telling them the wondrous story of your great Gift!

Scriptures for Reflection

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)

Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. (2 Corinthians 9:15)

God With Us

My heart is filled with wonder as I consider the coming of our Lord as a babe in a manger. I am in awe that the God of the universe would come as a human being to live among us, teaching us how to live a life pleasing to Him, and then dying a cruel death so that we could be in relationship with our Creator.

The book of Genesis reveals to us that before mankind’s fall into sin, God came down and walked with Adam during the cool of the day. Man was created in God’s image to have fellowship with Him. When Adam sinned, the fellowship was broken and man was separated from God.

But God did not give up on us!  In the Old Testament, He provided a way for sins to be covered through animal sacrifices; and as recorded in the New Testament, the sacrificial death of our Lord provides more than just a covering of sins. When we accept Christ as our Savior, our sins are washed away, and we enter into a Father/child relationship with our Creator.

I am so thankful that God loves us so much that He wants a relationship with us. He wants to be with us! The Word tells us in Matthew 1:23, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.  We who were far from God have been provided a way to be near Him!

Father, thank You that You did not leave us as we were. You did not leave us in our sin. You sent Your Son as a baby to be with us. He lived as one of us and was touched by the same feelings that we have. Thank You for the life He gave so that we could be set free from sin, and that we could be in relationship with God who is with us!

Scriptures for Reflection

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. (Matthew 1:23)

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)

A Season of Peace

In Luke Chapter 2, the angels declared the time of Christ’s birth to be a season of peace. For a lot of us, instead of Christmastime bringing feelings of peace and tranquility, it is the busiest time of the year. The season is filled with activities: Shopping, decorating, wrapping presents, baking goodies, going to dinners, plays and special services. The month of December seems to be gone almost before it begins. It is easy to get so caught up in the hustle and bustle that we lose sight of the Reason for the season.

Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, came to bring peace to the hearts of men. For those who were far from God, He came to bring us near. During the busyness of the season, if you become anxious and stressed, if you find yourself wondering what it is really all about, remember the comforting words of Isaiah: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee.” (Isa. 26:3)

So, stop….. take a deep breath….. Refocus your mind. Remember the reason we celebrate. Renew your relationship with the Giver of Peace.

Scriptures for Reflection

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace. (Ephesians 2:13-15)